This car is owned & driven by Rob Ozanne

A FIRST TIMER AT ALBANY

The Albany Weekender - Round the Houses Regularity - 04 - June - 2006

The pits reverberated with the sound of engines; crews rushed to make sure their charges were strapped in and attended to last minute adjustments. Tense smiles from the drivers acknowledged their help. We waited for the all-clear from the Marshals to start our practice laps.

All was not calm in Bowin no. 37.
"What the hell was I doing here?"
"What sort of mind aberration made me think I could race cars at 65?"

Further thoughts about how I could get out of this without losing face were cut short by the signal to go! We were out on the track accelerating down Collie Street. The fatherly advice from the doyens of Classic Albany Eventing ran through my mind:

"It is not a race."
"Take it easy and enjoy yourself."
"Don't hit the concrete barriers."
"If they wave a black flag at you you're in deep trouble."

All good confidence-building stuff, particularly the last as it was delivered in sonorous tones reminiscent of Moses returning from the mount.
All that was forgotten as I negotiated the chicane in Peel Place, the exhaust booming off the concrete barriers and the surrounding buildings Hey, this was fun! The exhibitionist in me took over as the crowd waved encouragement. At the end of the main straight, Aberdeen Street, the red flags came out and we were sent back to the pits with a sobering reminder that trying to widen the track by pushing the concrete barriers to one side with a race car was not a good idea. We were soon out again for another three laps to set our times for the regularity events to follow during the rest of the day.

I was on a high. I hadn't had so much fun and experienced such an adrenaline rush since being sprung with……….(but that's another story). Where else could you legally drive a race car at speed around the streets of a City watched by an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd? Monte Carlo, maybe? But then you would need a Formula 1 and a multi-million dollar budget.
The rest of the day was a blur and over much too soon. Each event started with a lap behind the pace car followed by four laps trying to match the time optimistically chosen from my practice times. I must admit that as a rookie trying to win the regularity was the last thing on my mind. I was having too much fun and the four laps were disappointingly over all too soon. The little Bowin lived up to expectations and performed faultlessly. I can't wait for next year!

What a fantastic weekend was had by all.
After finishing work on the car on Thursday night, thanks to the help from Neil McCrudden and the boys from WARM, Matt Lloyd and John Illig, we arrived in Albany on Friday night and booked in at the Dog Rock Motel. It seemed to be taken over by historic race cars, their owners and crews. I was soon to be overwhelmed by the camaraderie and friendliness of those involved in historic racing and the VSCC.
This was demonstrated time and again over the weekend. If anyone had a car problem in the pits there were always two or more volunteering their help to get them going.
Beginners were given encouragement and assistance at every turn. Gordon Smythe, a complete stranger became a self -appointed crew member giving my wife, Jen, much- needed help and advice to get me out on the track for each event with all parts of the car still attached. It was later that I discovered Gordon had once worked for "Elfin Racing Cars in South Australia and Ron Tauranac with the "RALT" Racing cars in England and Europe. Nothing but the best for this beginner. Back at the motel Chef John Illig's early morning breakfasts got us to the track on time and Bob's Barbecue set the atmosphere for some great socializing at night. Re-living the day in such esteemed company and refueled by a fine merlot a very unreliable source claimed my lap times dropped by 5 seconds in the retelling!

What did I learn from all this????

If you haven't been to the Classic Albany weekend - MARK the date on the calendar and GO!!!.
If you are thinking of entering - Get your car prepared and do it!!!
If you think you are too old - Give me a ring and I'll put you straight!!!

Cheers- Rob.